guess what, I'm back. excuses at the end as I want to keep this short so you can get right back into it. also Red8404, thank you for reviewing just to tell me you're not reading this story due to my "lame summary" I like it and that's all that matters. at least I don't have "I suck at summaries" in it .

Harry hit the dirt and let out a few painful coughs. "Get up!" Grunting Harry did as instructed, pushing himself off the ground and he faced his opponent. Daphne smirked, "Took you long enough." The two squared off, Harry throwing punches and Daphne easily blocked them. "You're getting better."

"Well after getting thrown around a bit I hope I'd learn something." Harry replied, throwing another punch.

Daphne stepped back, watching Harry's fist go by her face. Deciding to end it she thrust her head forward, slamming her forehead into Harry's face. The Boy-Who-Lived reeled back, landing on his backside holding his now bleeding nose. "That'll be it for the day."

Hermione approached Harry and crouched down at his side. She was wearing her own bruises, not having faired well in her own training. Daphne had taken it upon herself to teach her two friends a bit of hand-to-hand combat. Her reasoning for this was that in case there was a situation where she couldn't get to her friends in time they at least had more options when it came to defense. "Are you alright Harry?"

"I'll be fine." Harry wiped the blood away, brushing his hand in the grass in a quick attempt to clean it before remembering he could use scourge. The only male of the group looked into the tent where Daphne had retreated after their training. She looked worn down and it wasn't from exhaustion. With each passing day being separated from Ron was taking an emotional toll on her. Harry himself missed Tracey but unlike the two wolves they weren't linked by a bond. "Anything on that radio?"

Daphne looked down at the small magical device they had picked up. Daphne raided a patrol for supplies and snagged it. It was obvious that it had belonged to a member of the resistance. "No." Daphne sighed. "Nothing. I swear I didn't overhear that conversation. There's a rouge radio station that broadcasts for the Order."

"Keep trying." Hermione placed a comforting hand on Daphne's shoulder. "You'll guess that password eventually."

"In the meantime we need to think of our next move." Harry entered the tent and sat at the table. "We have no clue where any of the other Horcruxes are...or how to destroy them for that matter."

"Fiend fire-" Daphne started.

"No way are we using that. The danger is to great." Last thing he wanted was an unstoppable fire on their hands. "But we can come up with that later. Right now our priority should be on gathering the Horcruxes."

"Can't destroy what we don't have." Daphne quipped as she set the radio aside and gathered her weapons. "I'm going hunting. I can smell a deer nearby and we're running low on meat. I'll be back soon." The werewolf took off into the woods.

It was quiet for a few moments. "Harry, is she going to be ok?"

"She's pretty strong but even I don't know. Being away from Ron is...I don't know, weakening her will or something." Harry sighed, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes. "Damn it Ron why'd you stay behind?"

"Because you needed to escape before more Death Eaters showed up." Hermione reminded him. The night of Bill and Fleur's wedding, the attack during the reception. "He thought of you over himself so don't blame him."

"I know. And I'm greatful. Ron has had our back more times then I can count." Standing from the table Harry moved to prepare dinner so when Daphne returned they would be ready. "We have to find him and Tracey fast."

"Not to sound pessemistic but with us Apparating all over the place that might be a bit difficult." Hermione went over to assist Harry. "He's probably doing the same for us after we left the Ministry."

Harry was silent a few moments. "...Do you think Tracey is safe?"

"Of course." Hermione chuckled. "Not to say anything negative about your own combat abilities but her being with Ron is probably the safest she'd ever be. Ron's combat skills surpass the four of us combined."

"You're right." Harry nodded. "Of course you're right, you always are."

"Thank you. But there is one thing I hope I'm going to be wrong about." Hermione looked down.

Harry blinked in confusion and looked at his bushy haired friend. "What is it?"

"You said her will seems to be weakening right? Like she'd struggling just to get up in the morning and carry on." Harry nodded in affirmation. "Well I was thinking, should we let her continue to wear the Horcrux in that case?"

"You think being away from their mate will weaken a werewolf's mental barriers?" Harry scratched his head. It was an interesting concept to think about.

"Perhaps. Being in a constant state of depression isn't healthy regardless." Hermione started peeling the skin off of some potatoes. "We should be careful."

Daphne's condition deteriorated slowly. Harry and Hermione didn't see it until it was too late. The trio was eating dinner when Daphne brought up their lack of progress. "I don't like this random hopping around." She grit her teeth.

Harry, also annoyed, unknowingly made the mistake of responding. "Join the club."

Daphne's fists slammed into the table. "This is bullshit!"

"Hey Daphne calm down." Hermione reached out for her friend's shoulder. "We all don't like this situation and we understand how you feel being away from Ron for so long."

Daphne turned on Hermione. "I figured at least you of all people would have a plan. Aren't you supposed to be the brains of this group? Useless Mud-Blood."

Hermione gasped, hands covering her mouth in shock. Harry was on his feet. "Daphne that's enough!"

"And what are you gonna do?" Harry didn't like the way Daphne looked. Her appearance was feral. Nails had turned to claws and a canine was enlongated enough to be noticeable. Her eyes, while normally slits like the wolf who's blood coursed through her veins, were narrowed and watching both of them carefully. She was ready for a fight. "What are either of you going to do!?" Harry moved quickly, blasting Daphne out of the tent and onto the patch of grass in the clearing they were taking shelter in for the night.

"Harry!" Hermione cried in surprise.

"We have to get the Horcrux off of her!" Harry rushed out of the tent. Daphne was already picking herself up and glarring daggers at Harry. The werewolf warrior let out a mighty roar that shook the entire forest, birds took off in fright and any nearby creature bolted to safety. "Ok I'll admit I didn't think this through entirely."

Daphne stalked towards Harry, muscles bulging with rage. "No you didn't." Lashing out Daphne before he could even raise his wand she punched Harry in the stomach. Harry gasped and clutched his chest but he didn't get long to recover as Daphne's fist caught his chin in an uppercut. The Boy-Who-Lived actually left the ground before landing on his back. Standing above him Daphne raised her leg and stomped on Harry's chest. "What would any of you know about you feel!?" Another stomp. "Ron was savior!" Stomp. "My knight!" Stomp. "My entire world and now he's gone!" Pulling her arm back Daphne partially shifted her right hand into a claw. "All because of you!" As she was about to strike Hermione jumped onto Daphne causing both girls to tumble to the ground. "Get off me Mud-Blood!"

"No!"

Grunting in pain Harry rolled onto his side, grabbed his fallen wand and pulled himself toward the two wrestling girls. "Bollocks this hurts." Reaching out with his wand he cast a stunner into Daphne's side. She roared in pain, the beastly sound sent shivers down both humans. Hermione didn't dwell on it long and quickly grabbed the Horcrux and lifted it off Daphne, tossing it away. Daphne immediately lost consciousness.

Hermione rolled off Daphne onto her back. "I can't believe we did that."

Harry coughed a little, still in pain. "It's obvious she was holding back."

"You think?"

Harry chuckled. "If she hadn't been Daphne would have seriously maimed us."

Hermione nodded. "Or worse."

"No Hermione we wouldn't have been expelled." Hermione swatted Harry's arm. "Ow! Hey I'm hurt here."

"Apparently not enough to stop being an arse." Hermione rolled her eyes. "I say one dumb thing first year and you make jokes about it."

"You are literally the only person who would think getting expelled from school is worse than death." Slowly Harry got off the ground. "Lets get her back inside."

Her head hurt as she slowly regained consciousness. "Ow." Rubbing her forehead Daphne sat up. "What the hell happened?"

"You went crazy for a second." Harry's voice filtered in through the pain. "Said some things you probably would never had said." Daphne stood up on shakey legs.

"It's...coming back to me." Daphne looked pale as the memories resurfaced in her mind. "Oh Merlin did I really say that? Hermione I-" A punch across the face silenced her.

"Hermione!"

Daphne raised a hand. "No Harry I...I deserved that. I should have had better control of myself." Hermione pulled Daphne into a tight hug. "Um ok?"

"We miss him too. We miss both of them." Hermione pulled back and looked Daphne in the eye. "We will see them again."

Daphne nodded. "You're right. I just don't know what came over me."

"This." A metallic thunk was heard and the two girls looked at that table. The Horcrux sat there in all its evil glory. "As Ron explained to us fifth year werewolves have amazing metal barriers that prevent all sorts of charm and mind probing spells from working. But being apart from Ron seems to have caused your will to weaken creating a crack just big enough that the dark forces in that thing could worm it's way into. Guess it was only a matter of time till it reached the tipping point."

Hermione then entered the explination. "The changes in you were subtle. We noticed depression but we just thought it was from missing Ron and your mate bond which isn't entirely untrue. Iritability and agression were small and we thought that was something more...natural." Daphne's face darkened and she looked away. "Then the agression levels spiked suddenly and now here we are."

"I should have had better control." Daphne tightened her fist.

"Don't blame yourself." Harry took hold of her hand and she loosened her fist. "We should have made you take that thing off sooner. You're so much stronger than us I guess we took you for granted."

"Even a great pillar will fall to a small chisel with enough chips at it's base." Hermione smiled at Daphne.

"Aw you guys are the best." Daphne pulled both of them into a hug. "But seriously Hermione what fortune cookie did you get that from?"

"And the moment is gone." Hermione rolled her eyes. "You and Ron share that skill. You really are perfect for each other."

"It's getting colder." Hermione shivered slightly and wrapped her jacket, Daphne's combat jacket, around herself. Harry was practically drowning in Ron's jacket, Daphne had lent it to him so he would be warm. Daphne herself was kept warm by her beast's blood. The Mercenaries only wore large jackets like that as a style and or tactical choice, depending on who it was. Unlike Ron's jacket Daphne's didn't have front pockets, instead metallic plates on either side of the zipper to provide some armor. Thankfully the extra weight didn't bother Hermione to much.

"Well Hermione it is December." Harry replied, huddling closer to the fire.

"Christmas Eve I think." Daphne answered. Mentally she counted. "Twenty four. Yep definitley Christmas Eve."

"I know this might sound out of the blue but I want to go to Godric's Hollow. I've had the idea since Dumbledore died." Harry spoke up. "While he might not have an item of Grydffindor to turn into a Horcrux he might have hid one there. A sort of insult so to speak."

Daphne replied, "It's possible. Also Bathilda Bagshot lives there."

Hermione's head snapped up. "Did you say Bathilda Bagshot?"

"Uh...yes? What's so important about that name?" Daphne inquired, an eyebrow raised in curiosity.

"She's an author. Wrote A History of Magic. You're a pure blood witch surely you'd know all the famous people." Hermione looked at Daphne expectantly. "You didn't know did you?"

Daphne scoffed and looked away. "I didn't really care about that book to much if I'm being perfectly honest."

Hermione sighed. "I guess it doesn't matter. But I think I discovered something while reading said History of Magic. You remember the Goblins forges Godric Gryffindor's sword?" Hermione got to nods of affirmation. "Well The Sword of Gryffindor contains special properties that only goblin made metalwork would possess, most notably the ability to take on the power of substances it touches. Say something that would make it stronger?"

Daphne huffed in annoyance. "I wish Jezza was here. He's understand this metalworking nonesense."

"Harry remember Riddle's Diary?" The scarred boy nodded. "You said it contained part of The Dark Lord, that you saw him manifest himself."

"The Diary was Horcrux!" Harry exclaimed after a moment of pondering.

"Holy shit." Daphne smiled. "We're up one!"

Hermione nodded. "And Harry, what did you do to destroy it?"

"I stabbed it with a dead Basilisk tooth...the Basilisk venom. It can destroy a Horcrux! And I stabbed the Basilisk with Gryffindor's sword!" Harry was excited.

"We have a means of destroying them now. And if Bathilda Bagshot lives in Godric's Hollow, the same home place Dumbledore grew up, there might be a good chance he gave it to her. He might have predicted we'd end up there at some point."

"The Minister did say the sword went missing." Harry crossed his arms. "Ok that settles it. We're definitely going there now."

Godric's Hollow, a village in the West Country of England. A small community which centers on a village square with only a church, a post office, a pub, and a few shops. The residential streets are lined with lovely quaint cottages, and an area called Church Lane that leads up to the church. "So this is Godric's Hollow?" Harry said, his breath visible in the cold December air.

"Quaint." Daphne said, standing next to Harry and Hermione on the outskirts of the town.

"It does seem like a nice little town." Hermione remarked. "Shall we?"

"Lets go." Harry started walking down the main road. Hermione and Daphne were quick to follow behind him. The streets were quiet with a few people scurrying indoors to escape the cold December air.

"Do you need a coat deary?" One woman asked Daphne, who was in Ron's Chudley Cannon's Jersey and her usual combat pants, boots and gloves.

Daphne brushed off the concern. "I'm fine thanks. It's not that cold."

Hermione reminded Daphne, "That might attract a little muggle attention if you keep doing that."

"I'm a little more concerned with staying alive than raising some muggle's suspicion." Daphne looked around Godric's Hollow. "This place seems small enough that we can split up and search. If anything happen's we're close enough to each other to assist."

"You going off on your own then?" Harry asked, turning to face the she-wolf.

"I'll be faster and can cover more ground thoroughly." Harry nodded at her explination. "I won't be to far away." With that said Daphne ran off down another street.

Harry turned and came face to face with the ruined structure of a house. "What happened here?"

"You killed The Dark Lord." Hermione answered. "This is where your family lived. Did Dumbledore never tell you where you spent your first moments?"

"I don't think he had time." Harry replied.

"It's under an enchantmet to hide it from muggles. Keeps them away too. Sort of a memorial of the first defeat." Hermione explained. "They're buried here too. It's pretty common knowledge. Dumbledore probably didn't tell you because he knew you'd run off the minute he did."

"I would have. Were you going to tell me?" Harry turned to face Hermione.

"I wouldn't have let you leave here without seeing them." Hermione hooked her arm through Harry's. "Come on." It was a few minutes of walking before they arrived at the church and entered the graveyard grounds. They found the tombstone quickly, almost as if Harry was drawn to it. "Here lies James and Lily Potter. Devoted husband and father. Loving wife and mother." Harry's eyes dampened with tears as he read the inscription on the tombstone. "The last enemy that shall be defeated is death." Behind them the church bell rang twelve times signalling midnight.

"Happy Christmas Harry." Hermione spoke.

"Yeah...real fucking happy." Hermione couldn't blame him for his anger and sadness.

The sound of shuffling feet caught Hermione's attention. Turning around she saw an old haggard looking woman approaching them. "Oh my. Harry. Its Bathilda Bagshot."

"And you know that how?"

"Cause I have the newest release of A History of Magic which has a picture of the author on the back." Hermione smacked Harry's arm. "You seriously think I don't know what the author of one of my favorite books looks like?"

Harry didn't respond, instead approaching the elder woman. "Excuse me ma'am? Ms. Bagshot? Did...did Dumbledore see you before his death? Or perhaps someone working in his name?" She said nothing, instead pointing to a house down the road. "Probably doesn't want to talk out in the open."

The two followed her into the house. "I think we should have told Daphne somehow."

"We won't be here long." Harry assured her. Bathilda Bagshot disappeared further into the house and Harry moved forward to follow.

Hermione was caught up looking around the place. A layer of dust was covering almost every surface. "Does she not clean?"

Harry found Bathilda in a room deeper in the house entered. "Ma'am please. We have to know if you were given anything by Dumbledore or one of his agents." The elder woman said nothing, instead slowling leaning in. Harry thought she would whisper it and he leaned in. That's when he heard it. The hissing. Words. Parseltongue. Recognition flashed across Harry's face. "Oh shit!" Bathilda's form was replaced by a large snake. It lunged at Harry, attempting to sink it's fangs into his leg. Harry jumped over the attack and went for the door, firing spells back over his shoulder. Slamming the door shut behind him he called for Hermione.

"What is it!?" She entered the hall only for the snake to bust the door down, seperating the two.

"It's a trap!" Harry backed up, his feet hitting some stairs and her ascended. The enlarged serpent lunged, this time in an attempt to coil it's prey. Harry dove to the right, up a the remaining stairs. With a flick of his wand he destroyed the section of stairs. The scaley beast fell back to the ground floor. Hermione rushed up the stairs, jumping the gap. Harry reached out to steady Hermione. "In here!" Opening the door to a bedroom the two slammed it shut behind them.

"Do you think that will hold it?" Hermione asked.

"No. No I don't." The two moved until their backs hit the wall. They could hear it moving on the first floor, knocking over all manner of furniture. But then it got quiet. The only sound was Harry and Hermione's quick breaths, clouds of steam hung in front of them. Only the light of the moon shone in through the window which offered them poor visability. "I think it gave-"

The snake burst through the floor, hissing loudly at the two. Then came the roar. The crash. Shards of glass flew through the air as two blades flashed toward the serpent. Daphne roared again as she slashed at her opponent. But her blades proved ineffective as they barely scratched the snake's skin. "The hell!?" It was her turn to be on the defensive as the snake hissed, baring large fangs and striking. Daphne raised her arm, her tonfa catching the fangs which slid harmlessly, centimeters from her skin. Venom dripped from the fangs. Daphne's other blade held the bottom jaw in place. "Any time you'd like to get off your arse and doing something! It'd be much appreciated!"

Harry raised his wand. "Flippendo!" The Knockback Jinx hit the snake, sending it flying into the wall. It didn't slow the snake at all as it recovered quickly.

"We're out of here!" Hermione grabbed onto Harry and Daphne, firing a blasting jinx to cover their escape. With a quick thought the trio disapparated out of the house.

They didn't get that far though, reappearing outside in front of the church. "What the hell?" Harry gasped, picking himself up out of the snow. Before him lay the splintered remains of his wand. It had been damaged when Hermion cast her spell. "Why didn't we go anywhere!?" The snake landed on the ground down the street from them.

"I believe your friend is injured." A new voice caught their attention. Harry looked down at Hermione, a piece of glass was stuck in her left arm. Standing atop the church steps in a black robe was an older gentleman. He had dark hair with some gray streaks, brown eyes behind thin framed glasses. What was distinguishable about this man of the cloth were the seven brown orbs floating around him. "The names Father Nigel." Three of the orbs flew infront of Nigel and formed a triangle. Glowing blue lines connected them and a runic writing formed with a small circle appearing in the center before a bleam of energy shot out at the snake. The serpent easily avoided it and kept coming. "Not your regular beasty is it?" A fourth orb joined the original three and spread out forming a rectangle. The snake lunged, impacting with the invisible barrier and bouncing back. "I think it's time you lot left."

"What about you?" Daphne asked as she pulled the glass out and quickly wrapped a piece of cloth around it.

"I survived one wizarding war and I have no plans to die in this one. Now get out of here." Nigel's remaining three orbs sailed past him and began crashing into the snake which was doing little more than pestering it but it did keep it back.

"Thank you!" Hermione shouted at the priest before they apparated away.

"And that is my que." Nigel recalled the orbs and they started circling aboce him. A purple light filled the ring of orbs and they descended on Nigel and he disappeared within a portal. The orbs were left behind but no longer being controlled through magic one could tell they were simple oversize prayer beads.

"Do you think we'll see him again?" Hermione asked the group as they settled in for the night.

"We might. Based on what he said he fought in the first war so he's probably coming back to fight again." Harry answered.

"That was some really wicked magic." Daphne spoke up. "And I've seen a lot of unique techniques at the den."

"It was interesting. I wonder why a wizard decided to become a priest?" Hermione pondered the subject.

Daphne shrugged. "Who knows. Either way he helped us till we were back on our feet. If not that snake would've been on us. But right now I'm going to go looking for some decent food."

"I'll set up the tent and wards." Hermione stood, brushing the snow off her pants.

"Guess I'll get some firewood then." Harry borrowed Hermione's wand and went deeper into the woods, trying to find decent wood to burn. "We probably could just use a drying charm or something so it really doesn't matter what I bring back." With that idea in his mind Harry began collecting branches. He had a good armfull when a flash of light caught his eye. Crouching behind a tree, wand at the ready he scanned the woods to find the source. It didn't take him long to find a glowing animal patronus off in the distance. He thought it was a stag. "Dad?" Emerging from the tree he walked toward it but it turned and moved deeper into the trees. "Wait!" Harry gave chase, running after it for a good five minutes before the patronus stopped. Now close Harry could see the stag wasn't a stag at all. It lacked antlers, it was a doe. "Why'd you lead me here?" Harry took a step but paused when he her a loud snap. Backing up quickly he saw that the doe had lead him to a pool of water that had frozen over for the winter. Looking up, intending to ask another question, he saw the doe had vanished.

"What the hell is going on?" Glancing down again Harry pondered if her was going crazy. Seeing strange patronus in the woods and chasing after them. He figured he was going indeed going mental, seeing as he could now see the Sword of Gryffindor underneath the ice. "Wait what!?" Getting on his knees Harry peered down into the ice. "That's it!" Waving the wand he tried to summon it to him but it wouldn't budge. "Oh this is going to suck." Standing on the bank of the pond, he assumed it was a pond, he cast a heat charm to melt a hole large enough to fit his body through. "Shit it's cold." Harry's teeth chatterd as he removed his glasses, pants, socks, shoes jacket and t-shirt. He knew he'd need something dry to change into once he came out of the frozen water.

"Ok Harry just jump in, grab the sword, and get the fuck out. Thirty seconds at most mate you can do this." Once Harry felt he had psyched himself up enough he jumped in. His body screamed at him to get out of the water but he had to keep going. The sword was here, he didn't know how or why. All he knew was that he needed it, his quest depended on it. But the sword was a lot farther down than he'd originally thought, the ice not clear enough for him to judge the distance properly. His vision was fading and he was loosing consciousness. But his fingertips brushed metal. Closing his right hand around the hilt of the sword wasn't enough to snap him out of it. Harry's eyes shut and he slowly floated upward, the last air bubbles rising to the surface.

Biting wind snapped him back into the realm of the living. He was out for a few seconds. Harry cough, spitting up water. "The. Hell." He said between coughs. The sword fell from his hand but he could tell it didn't hit the ground nor did it re-enter the water, he'd have heard it impact. Someone had grabbed it. Harry could also tell he had yet to touch the ground, someone was holding him up by his left arm.

"Oi mate if you wanted to go for a late night swim could you have done it somewhere a bit warmer?"

Harry slowly opened his eyes. The figure holding him up was fuzzy around the edges but he'd recognize that mop of red hair and large frame anywhere. "Ron?"

ok so what happened is life, and a wee bit of writers block. guy at work quit and I took his hours so mandatory overtime, laziness, the replacement for my coworker quit so back to square one, more laziness and Overwatch. honestly it felt good to type this out, could feel my stress just slip away. that's about it really, quick summary. so I'm back and things should be regular from here on out *knocks on wood*

thanks to those who followed/favorited/reviewed